Clothes refreshing appliance

ABSTRACT

A system for treating a fabric load, the system comprising a chamber defining a treating chamber for treating the fabric load, at least one opening into the chamber for enabling user access to the interior of the chamber, a closure adapted to selectively close the opening into the chamber, a fluid delivery system in fluid communication with the treating chamber, a fluid removal system in fluid communication with the treating chamber, and at least one sleeve holder.

BACKGROUND

Clothes refreshing appliances may clean, deodorize, and/or de-wrinkle clothes without using a water immersion process found with conventional household washing machines. Clothes refreshing appliances may treat clothes with steam, water, chemicals, or a combination thereof, and then apply heat and/or recirculate air to dry the clothes.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one aspect, an embodiment of the invention relates to a system for treating a fabric load, the system includes a housing having a chamber at least partially defining a treating chamber for treating the fabric load, at least one opening into the chamber for enabling user access to the interior of the chamber, a closure adapted to selectively close the opening into the chamber, a fluid delivery system in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber, a fluid removal system in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber, at least one sleeve holder operably coupled with one of the chamber or the closure and configured to have a shirt sleeve wrapped around at least a portion of it, and a tensioner configured to selectively couple to a cuff of a shirt and hold the sleeve in tension against the at least one sleeve holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a refreshing system, a portion of which is drawn schematically, having a door in an open position.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sleeve wrap portion of the refreshing system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A illustrates a cross-sectional view of the sleeve wrap portion of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a shirt being placed within the refreshing system and utilizing the sleeve wrap portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to laundry treating apparatus and more particularly to a refreshing appliance used for cleaning, deodorizing, and de-wrinkling clothes. Clothing refreshing is a process whereby the clothing article is restored to its clean condition without the requirement of subjecting the clothing article to a conventional full cleaning process of either washing/drying in the washer/the dryer or dry cleaning. A refreshed clothing article may have the appearance of a clean article that includes a restored vibrant appearance. Additionally, a refreshed garment may have reduced wrinkles and/or minimal odors as compared to its pre-processed condition.

FIG. 1 illustrates a laundry treating appliance illustrated as a refresher 10 for treating a fabric load having a housing 12 having a chamber 13 at least partially defining a treating chamber 14 for treating the fabric load. An opening 16 into the chamber 13 enables user access to the interior of the chamber 13. As illustrated, the housing 12 may be generally rectangular with a height and depth much greater than the width, with the opening 16 being formed in the width.

A closure 18 may be included and adapted to selectively close the opening 16 into the chamber 13. The closure 18 may take any suitable form and has been illustrated as including a door 20 mounted to a slidable frame 22. The slidable frame 22 may be configured to move between an opened position, as shown in FIG. 1, wherein at least a portion of the frame 22 may be exterior of the chamber 13 and wherein a user may access the treating chamber 13 and/or the interior of the frame 22 and a closed position wherein the frame 22 may be located within the chamber 13 and wherein the closure 18 closes the opening 16.

The housing 12 may also house components necessary for accomplishing fabric revitalization on a fabric load. For example, a fluid delivery system 30 in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber 13 may be included for hydrating a fabric load. In general, the fluid delivery system 30 may include at least one reservoir 32. The fluid delivery system 30 may be provided on an exterior or interior of the housing 12 and may be immediately accessible by the user or hidden behind a cover or an access panel. One or more treating chemistries may be provided in the reservoir 32 in any desirable configuration, such as a single charge, multiple charge (also known as bulk dispenser), or both. Examples of typical treating chemistries include, without limitation, water, detergent, bleach, fabric softener, fragrances, and enzymes. A sprayer 34 may be operably coupled with the reservoir 32 via a conduit 36. The treating chemistry, when dispensed, may flow from the reservoir through the conduit 36 to the sprayer 34 where it may be sprayed into the treating chamber 14. The sprayer 34 may include by way of non-limiting examples an injector, a sprayer, a mister, a foamer, a steamer, a heater, a vibrator, an agitator, an atomizer, a vapor insertion system, a fluid insertion system, a multi-phase chemistry insertion system, a nebulizer, and combinations thereof. Alternatively, a non-fluid treating chemistry may be utilized and an alternative treating chemistry delivery system may be included.

A fluid removal system may also be included and may be in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber 13. The fluid removal system may include any suitable components including a heater 40 fluidly coupled with the interior of the chamber 13 to heat air flowing through the interior of the chamber 13, which may aid in revitalizing the fabric load. The heater 40 may quickly raise the temperature of the fabric load from ambient temperature (about 70° F.) to a temperature substantially higher than ambient temperature, including a temperature within a temperature range from about 42° F. to about 160° F. Heat may be applied to the fabric load to minimize wrinkles and odors. However, the amount of heat applied to the fabric load must be controlled so as to prevent or reduce shrinkage of the fabrics in the fabric load.

Further still, the fluid removal system may include a blower fan 42 connected to a regulated motor 44 to provide a source of airflow in the system. By way of non-limiting example, the blower fan 42 may operate at variable speeds, such as by variable speed operation of the motor 44, and may provide a source of air movement through the chamber 13. The variable speed control of the motor 44 for the blower fan 42 ensures that the blower fan 42 may be capable of moving a constant airflow through the chamber 13 despite the occurrence of air restrictions that may develop at an air outlet, which exhausts air from the chamber 13 to the atmosphere. Furthermore, air movement through the chamber 13 ensures that appropriate temperature reductions of the fabric load are achieved and that the particulates, such as the soils and hair, are removed from the fabric load.

The heater 40 may be disposed along the airflow system to heat the airflow generated by the blower fan 42. The fluid removal system therefore includes the combination of the heater 40 and the blower fan 42 functionalities that provides for dehydration of moisture contained in articles of the fabric load. As the heated air contacts the fabric load, moisture may be removed from the fabric load.

A user interface 50 that provides information, such as status information and safety or emergency information may also be included. While illustrated at a top front portion of the housing 12 in FIG. 1 for ease of illustration, it will be appreciated that the user interface 50 may be located elsewhere, such as elsewhere on the front of the housing 12, on top of the housing 12, or on the door. The user interface 50 may include a control panel to communicate information representative of the revitalization system. For example, the information may be status information, such as time remaining, cycle step, and unbalanced load information. The user may interact with the user interface 50 to send information, such as control signals, including turn-on signals, shut-off signals, and a command to delay or start of all or part of the process. A controller 52 may also be included in the refresher 10 and may be operably coupled with components within the refresher 10 and may control the various components of the fabric revitalization system to execute a revitalization method.

The frame 22 or an interior of the chamber 13 may also include a support surface 56 to which a fabric load holder such as a hanger may be operably coupled. Alternatively, any suitable fabric load holders (e.g., pins, ties, clips, a secondary vertical support substrate, etc.) may be used to hold an article of a fabric load in place during the revitalization process. Further, at least one sleeve holder 60 may be operably coupled with one of the chamber 13 or the closure 18 and configured to have a shirtsleeve wrapped around at least a portion of it. In the illustrated example, two sleeve holders 60 are operably coupled with opposite sides of the frame 22. Each sleeve holder 60 has a sleeve wrap or main body portion 62 terminating in opposing ends 64, which are mounted to the frame 22. The sleeve holder 60 may be shaped such that the main body portion 62 may be spaced from the frame 22 when the opposing ends 64 are mounted to the frame 22. When the opposing ends 64 are mounted to the frame 22 they are fixed and act to stabilize the sleeve holder 60 and stop it from flexing when a garment of a fabric load may be installed. This prevents the sleeve holder 60 from deflecting under tension, which could cause the position of the sleeve to shift and add a wrinkle. An upper horizontal portion 66 may be coupled with the main body portion 62 and forms an acute interior angle 68 with the main body portion 62. In the illustrated example, the interior angle 68 is 81.5 degrees.

The sleeve holder 60 is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. The rounded surfaces or rounded edges 61 of the sleeve holder 60 will help to reduce creases in sleeves of fabric loads when the garment is installed within the refresher 10. As shown in FIG. 2A the sleeve holder 60 includes a C-shaped cross section 63. It is contemplated that the sleeve holder 60 may be formed from any suitable material including polypropylene. As illustrated the sleeve holder 60 may be a relatively thin component. For example, a thickness of the sleeve holder 60 may include a range between 12 mm-22 mm. That along with the open area formed by the C-shaped cross section 63 helps the sleeve holder to release heat such that excessively hot components may be eliminated. For example, temperatures in excess of 75° C. may be avoided. It will be understood that the sleeve holder may have any suitable shape for aiding in a release of heat from the body including that the sleeve holder may have any suitable cross-section with any number of internal open areas.

Referring to FIG. 3, multiple tensioners 70 are provided in the housing and generally opposite to the sleeve holder 60. The tensioner 70 may be configured to selectively couple to a cuff or other portion of a shirtsleeve and hold the sleeve in tension against the at least one sleeve holder 60. The tensioner 70 may be formed in any suitable manner including that it may have a clip 72 attached to the end of a tensioned and retractable cable 74. The clip 72 includes a hard shell that grips clothes but does not leave marks. The tensioner 70 may be located such that when the clip 72 may be attached to a sleeve passing through the sleeve holder 60, the cable may be generally perpendicular to the main body portion 62.

Still referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a shirt 80 hung from the frame 22 and with a sleeve 82 being appropriately restrained and tensioned. The angle of the main body portion 62 aids in locating the sleeve 82 so it does not fall away from the sleeve holder 60 and instead the sleeve 82 may be in full contact with the sleeve holder 60. In this manner, proper tension may be provided and wrinkles may be avoided. Because of the interior angle 68, as the sleeve 82 is wrapped around the main body portion 62 it may be pulled in line with direction being pulled by the tensioner 70 on the cuff 84 so no additional creases are created. FIG. 4 further illustrates how the sleeve may be properly tensioned. The door 20 may then be closed and the refreshing may commence.

During operation, the heater 40 and fan 42 are operated to recirculate air within the chamber to get the chamber up to a predetermined to temp. The treating chemistry may then be dispensed and the air may be recirculated with the heater off until a predetermined time has elapsed. Alternatively, the heater 40 may remain on and aid in vaporizing the fluid to remove it. It will also be understood that the fluid may be applied to the laundry load, may drip or run down to a reservoir (not shown) where the heater 40 may heat it to aid in vaporization and removal.

The above-described embodiments provide a variety of benefits including that they utilize a refreshing process allowing the consumer to have reduced efforts in making their fabrics “like new again.” Fabric revitalization may leave clothing fabrics with a clean, vibrant appearance and improved hand or feel in addition to improved wrinkle and odor performance. Additionally, by not having to place fabrics through a complete cleaning process (e.g., immersion or non-immersion wash followed by drying), fabrics will be less damaged and as a result may last longer. The clothes refreshing appliances may eliminate the need to separately wash, dry, and iron clothes with separate implements like a clothes washer, a clothes dryer, and an ironing board. Further still, the above-describe embodiments retain clothing articles in a manner that reduces creases on sleeves of garments of the fabric load. More specifically, the above-described embodiments include a relatively non-flexible sleeve holder that provides guiding to the garment sleeves and may be provided at an angle, which facilitates easy clipping and tensioning of the garment, these features allow for the sleeve to remain in place so that wrinkles are not added to the garment. The shape of the above-described sleeve holder allows it to not add impressions on the garment sleeves after completion of the cycle, which ultimately lessens the wrinkles in the garment. Further still, the material and structure of the above-described sleeve holders provide for reduced temperatures in the component, which avoids excessively hot temperatures.

To the extent not already described, the different features and structures of the various embodiments of the invention may be used in combination with each other as desired. That one feature may not be illustrated in all of the embodiments is not meant to be construed that it may not be, but is done for brevity of description. Thus, the various features of the different embodiments may be mixed and matched as desired to form new embodiments, whether or not the new embodiments are expressly described.

While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for treating a fabric load, the system comprising: a housing defining an interior with an access opening to at least partially define a treating chamber for treating the fabric load; a closure having a frame selectively moveable into and out of the treating chamber through the access opening and a door mounted to the frame to close the access opening when the frame is moved into the treating chamber; at least one sleeve holder having a sleeve wrap terminating in opposing ends, which are mounted to the frame, and the sleeve holder is shaped such that the sleeve wrap is spaced from the frame when the opposing ends are mounted to the frame; and a tensioner mounted to the frame at a location generally opposite the sleeve wrap and configured to selectively couple to a cuff of a shirt and hold the sleeve in tension against the at least one sleeve holder.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sleeve holder has ends coupled with the one of the chamber and the closure.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sleeve holder is formed from plastic.
 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least two sleeve holders operably coupled with one of the chamber or the closure.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the frame is slidably coupled with the housing.
 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the slidable frame is configured to move between an opened position wherein at least a portion of the frame is exterior of the chamber and wherein a user may access the treating chamber and a closed position wherein the frame is located within the chamber and wherein the closure closes the opening.
 7. The system of claim 6, further comprising at least two sleeve holders operably coupled with opposite sides of the frame.
 8. The system of claim 6 wherein the at least one sleeve holder and the tensioner are both operably coupled with the frame.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one sleeve holder comprises a main body portion that has an angle that is perpendicular to the tensioner.
 10. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one sleeve holder further comprises an upper horizontal portion that forms an interior angle of 81.5 degrees with the main body portion.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sleeve holder comprises a c-shaped cross section.
 12. The system of claim 1 wherein the tensioner comprises a retractable clip.
 13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid delivery system in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber.
 14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid removal system in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber.
 15. The system of claim 14 wherein the system may be used to at least one of: (a) dry a wet load of clothes and then revitalize the dried clothes and (b) revitalize an initially dry load of clothes.
 16. A system for treating a fabric load, the system comprising: a housing defining an interior with an access opening to at least partially define a treating chamber for treating the fabric load; a closure selectively moveable to close the access opening; at least one plastic sleeve holder having a body shaped to aid in a release of heat from the body and shaped to not cause wrinkles on a sleeve of a garment; and a tensioner configured to selectively couple to a cuff of a shirt and hold the sleeve in tension against the at least one sleeve holder.
 17. The system of claim 16 wherein the body is shaped with rounded edges.
 18. The system of claim 16 wherein the body comprises a cross-section with at least one open area.
 19. The system of claim 18 wherein the body comprises a C-shaped cross section. 